Options for Dealing With Your Milk Supply

Starting at about 12 weeks gestation, a mothers’ body begins preparing for the birth of her child, including the production of the baby’s milk supply. Mothers’ enduring the loss of their child from about 12 weeks gestation to full-term will have to contend with their milk supply coming in and how they would like to handle it. Two options are listed below:

Breast milk Donation

*Human Milk 4 Human Babies: This online group can be found on Facebook at:

Human Milk 4 Human Babies-Illinois

Human Milk 4 Human Babies-Wisconsin

*Eats On Feets-Illinois: This online group can be found on Facebook at:

Eats On Feets-Illinois

Kishwaukee Community Hospital: To donate breast milk, mothers need to go through a screening process with the milk bank. The process is similar to the process for donating blood. For the remainder of this year, mothers who wish to donate may contact Lauren at the Milk Bank in Indiana to begin the screening process by calling 317.536.1670. Once a donor number is received, mothers can call the Breastfeeding Center at Kishwaukee Hospital at 815.748.8350 to arrange a drop off time.

In early 2015, the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes will open a processing facility in northern Illinois and the milk donated to the Breastfeeding Center will stay local to help local infants. For more information about the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, visit www.milkbankwgl.org.

*Cabbage leaves: Simply place cold, refrigerated cabbage leaves inside your bra. You do not need the hard bottom portion of the cabbage. Break up a few leaves and arrange them in a comfortable position. Leave them in place for a few hours or until they begin to wilt. If you are allergic to sulfa or cabbage, avoid using this technique. It is believed that cabbage contains substances which heal inflammation and swelling

*Drink Sage Tea: Sage contains a form of estrogen, which will help your body dry up the breast milk. Sage tea can be found at any health food store. You can also make it at home if you have the sage spice. Simply rub 1 tsp. of sage into a cup of hot water and let it steep for about 15 minutes. Add some honey or milk to the tea, as sage is very bitter.

Drink one cup every six hours; this should help reduce your milk quickly. It is best to use sage tea alongside the cabbage leaves, to give your body comfort while you wait for the milk to dry

*Wear proper clothing: If your nipples are stimulated in any way, this can cause milk production. Wear loose fitting clothes and a supportive and comfortable bra. Sports bras are helpful in this regard.

*Use nursing pads: Nursing pads will absorb the milk when your breasts begin to leak. Give your breasts fresh air occasionally. It is imperative that you not bind your breasts in any way. This can cause mastitis and plugged ducts, adding to your discomfort.

*Apply cool compress: A cool touch can help soothe your engorged breasts. Ice packs, cold compresses or even a frozen bag of peas will work. Anti-inflammatories, which do not contain any steroids, such as ibuprofen, will also help. Although these will not help in reducing milk production, they will make you feel more comfortable while you wait.

*Avoid warm touch: While a cool touch can bring relief, a warm touch can trigger your body to produce breast milk. A warm or hot shower can stimulate milk production, so unless you are looking for a way to release a little milk, keep your breasts away from warm water.

*Drink water: It is important to keep yourself hydrated. One myth that has serious negative impact is that if you reduce your water intake, this will reduce your milk supply. However, if you do not drink water, you will become dehydrated. This will increase the risk of developing not only a breast infection, but a urinary tract infection as well.